Milestone for lion cubs at Omaha zoo

A big celebration at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. The five lion cubs are officially one month old and they are celebrating with a birthday party lion style.

The zookeepers that care for the cubs will be making special “lion cupcakes” for all of the lions on Wednesday.

All five cubs, two males and three females are doing well and are on display at the Cat Complex. The cubs are weighed each day. Their current weights range from 7.5 pounds to 11.1.

One of the female cubs does receive a supplemental feeding once a day when the adult lions are shifted off display. Forty-eight hours after she was born, she spent eight days in the hospital when she wasn’t competing well for food. After receiving fluids and round the clock care from our animal care staff, she was put back with her siblings, mom, Mfisha and aunt, Ahadi.

African lions are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources). Over the last 20 years the lion population has estimated to have declined from 30% to 50%.